Virginia, 1999

Flash Flooding in Virginia, January 24, 1999

January 24, 1999 · NWS LWX · 3 events in 3 counties and zones

Strong southerly winds ahead of an area of low pressure ushered in copious amounts of moisture from the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. Rain showers developed across Central Virginia on the 23rd and continued to drop heavy rain through sunrise on the 24th.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 3 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
3

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS LWX wrote it up.

Strong southerly winds ahead of an area of low pressure ushered in copious amounts of moisture from the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. Rain showers developed across Central Virginia on the 23rd and continued to drop heavy rain through sunrise on the 24th. Rainfall totals were heaviest in Warren, Page, and Madison Counties. Rainfall totals from Page County early on the 23rd through midday on the 24th included 3.54 inches at Lewis Mountain Camp, 3.52 inches at Big Meadows, 2.84 inches at Rocky Branch, and 2.56 inches at Skyland. County officials reported high water covering Highway 211 east of the foot of Skyline Drive, and two additional low lying bridges in the county under water at 7:30 AM. Rainfall totals from Madison County included 3.03 inches at Syria, 2.83 inches at Hood, 2.72 inches at Nethers, and 2.52 inches at Fork Mountain. Hogback Mountain in Warren County reported 3.84 inches of rainfall. Officials in Warren County reported high water covering the East 8th Street Bridge and the intersection of Hollow and Float Mountain in Front Royal at 7:30 AM.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

3 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flash Flood, Warren

When
January 24, 4:00 AM EST to 8:00 AM EST
Where
Warren County, Front Royal
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
38.909, -78.207 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Page

When
January 24, 4:00 AM EST to 8:00 AM EST
Where
Page County, East Portion
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
38.620, -78.484 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Madison

When
January 24, 4:00 AM EST to 8:00 AM EST
Where
Madison County, Countywide
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
38.414, -78.279 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Flash Flood
Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Virginia in 1999Every state in 1999This day in weather historyWarnings in Virginia, January 1999

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5679817, 5679930, 5679931.